Payload CMS
This is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants and tools to interact directly with your Payload CMS instance.
What is Payload CMS?
Payload CMS is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to this is a model context protocol (mcp) server that enables ai assistants and tools to interact directly with your payload cms instance.
This is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants and tools to interact directly with your Payload CMS instance.
This server falls under the Business Applications category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- This is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables A
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx payloadConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Payload CMS
Payload MCP Server connects AI assistants directly to your Payload CMS instance, enabling natural-language control over content collections and global documents. It exposes tools for creating, searching, and updating documents via the Payload REST API, making it possible to manage headless CMS content without leaving your AI workflow.
Prerequisites
- Python 3.8 or higher installed
- A running Payload CMS instance (local or remote) with its REST API accessible
- pip package manager available
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or VS Code with MCP support
- Optional: a Payload JWT auth token if your instance requires authentication
Clone and install the server
Clone the repository and install its Python dependencies. You can install it as an editable package for development or as a global command.
git clone https://github.com/ohnicholas93/payload-mcp-server.git
cd payload-mcp-server
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Or install as a package:
pip install .Configure environment variables
Set the connection variables that point the server at your Payload CMS instance. At minimum you need the base URL; the auth token is optional for public instances.
export PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__BASE_URL="http://localhost:3000/api"
export PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__AUTH_TOKEN="your-jwt-token-here"
export PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__TIMEOUT="30"
export PAYLOAD_MCP_LOG_LEVEL="INFO"Verify the server starts
Run the server directly to confirm it starts without errors before wiring it into your MCP client.
payload-mcp-server
# Or from source:
python -m payload_mcp.serverAdd to Claude Desktop configuration
Edit your Claude Desktop config file (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS) to register the server as an MCP provider.
{
"mcpServers": {
"payload-mcp": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["-m", "payload_mcp.server"],
"cwd": "/path/to/payload-mcp-server",
"env": {
"PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__BASE_URL": "http://localhost:3000/api",
"PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__AUTH_TOKEN": "your-jwt-token"
}
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop and test
Quit and reopen Claude Desktop so it picks up the new server config. You should see the Payload MCP tools available in the tool list.
Payload CMS Examples
Client configuration
Complete claude_desktop_config.json entry for Payload MCP Server using Python module mode.
{
"mcpServers": {
"payload-mcp": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["-m", "payload_mcp.server"],
"cwd": "/path/to/payload-mcp-server",
"env": {
"PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__BASE_URL": "http://localhost:3000/api",
"PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__AUTH_TOKEN": "eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9...",
"PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__VERIFY_SSL": "false",
"PAYLOAD_MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "INFO"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts you can send to Claude once the Payload MCP Server is connected.
- "Search the 'posts' collection for items where the status field is 'draft' and return the first 10 results."
- "Create a new document in the 'products' collection with title 'Widget Pro', price 49.99, and status 'published'."
- "Update the global document with slug 'site-settings' to set the maintenanceMode field to false."
- "Get the user with ID '64abc123def456' from the 'users' collection and show all their fields."Troubleshooting Payload CMS
Server returns 'connection refused' errors when calling tools
Ensure your Payload CMS instance is running and the PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__BASE_URL environment variable points to the correct host and port. For Docker-based setups, use the container's network address instead of localhost.
Authentication errors (401 Unauthorized) from Payload API
Generate a fresh JWT token from your Payload admin panel or via the /api/users/login endpoint and set it as PAYLOAD_MCP_PAYLOAD__AUTH_TOKEN. Tokens expire based on your Payload configuration.
Module not found error when starting the server
Ensure you installed the package in the same Python environment you are running. Run 'pip install .' inside the cloned repo directory, or activate the correct virtual environment before starting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Payload CMS
What is Payload CMS?
Payload CMS is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that this is a model context protocol (mcp) server that enables ai assistants and tools to interact directly with your payload cms instance. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Payload CMS?
Follow the installation instructions on the Payload CMS GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Payload CMS?
Payload CMS works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Payload CMS free to use?
Yes, Payload CMS is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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